Local gamblers have blown nearly £36 million on betting machines in the last eight years.

Figures from the Campaign for Fairer Gambling revealed that fixed odd betting terminals (FOBTs) have cost people in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West UK Parliamentary constituency £35.9 million between 2008 and 2016.

Approximately £99.9 million has been lost across South Lanarkshire over the same period, with 83 betting licenses issued across the local authority.

The addictive machines, often dubbed the crack cocaine of gambling, allow punters to wager £100 every 20 seconds.

With thousands of people plunging into debt and experiencing mental health issues as a result, UK Government ministers last week agreed to drastically reduce the maximum betting stake on these machines to £2.

Rutherglen MP Ged Killen said: “Rutherglen and Hamilton West is in the top 5 per cent of UK constituencies in terms of the numbers of fixed odds betting terminals, while the South Lanarkshire local authority area is the joint third-highest in Scotland.

“These machines are predatory and extract value from communities through play styles designed to be addictive and to maximise the amount of money that can be taken, often from vulnerable people with not much money to begin with.

“I welcome the reduction in the maximum stake to £2. This is something Labour has campaigned for.

“The Scottish Government must now do its bit. The SNP have accepted Labour’s campaign to bring new betting shops under planning control. However, they must go further to limit and roll back the spread of FOBTs.

“At last week’s first minister’s questions Nicola Sturgeon said that she would continue to call for appropriate action to tackle this problem. Nicola Sturgeon is in power and she should be taking action, not just calling for it.”

A study undertaken by the British Amusement Catering Trade Association found fixed-odds betting terminals are costing South Lanarkshire £10.1 million a year in lost money, health expenses and job problems associated with addiction to the terminals.

Neighbouring local authority Glasgow loses a staggering £27 million a year – more than any other council area in the UK.

Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey said: “I wholeheartedly welcome the UK Government’s decision to cut the stake on fixed odds betting terminals to £2 as it is a move which will surely save lives.

“Too much social harm has been caused by the machines whilst individuals have been plunged into huge financial difficulties because of them.

“Our gambling industry has a duty to be socially responsible and this has certainly not been the case when they are allowing customers to lose hundreds of pounds in minutes on the machines.

“I congratulate all campaigners and political parties who were calling for the maximum £2 stake. Thankfully our pressure has paid off.”

The roulette-style betting machines are estimated to cost the public purse around £116 million in hospital inpatient visits, £32 million in mental health services and £16 million through criminal behaviour.

This is according to research published in March by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR).

Problem gambling associated with the machines also results in £13 million in additional housing costs and £30 million through problems at work, the researchers estimated.

The study, which was commissioned by Bacta, the trade association for the UK amusements sector, specifically looked at the damage caused by so-called B2 machines, which allow the highest stakes and are thought to cause the greatest damage.

Bacta, which represents operators of fruit machines, jukeboxes and amusement arcades, said a cut to £2 for FOBT stakes was necessary to protect public services.

John White, chief executive of Bacta, said: “It could not be clearer that only a £2 stake maximum can help protect vulnerable people from major losses on these machines, which are the source of so much needless and avoidable harm.

“A £2 stake is the only safe and sensible option to limit the damage caused by FOBTs.”